The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-08-18
BOB TOONIBS'S DEBUr.
"Ho bounded Into the Arena Like "a
Iilack-NInned Numidian Lion"
(From the Louisville Conricr.Journal)

Black-Maned Numidinn LiOn.''
From the Louisville COuricr.JournalD
The first evidence of the coming power
OF this remarkable man was exhibited at
Wilmington, Il small village in Abbovillo
district Gas tho present counties were
then calledD, South Carolina. General
George McDuflic, the only representa-.
tive Of Dcmosthenes in this country
since Patrick Henry, lived near there
McDuilie was harnesscd lightning. lie
forged the chain of logic ut white heat.
lie was the most nervous, impassionCd
and thrilling tribune Of the people of
that day. He demonstrated the political
problems as Euclid did geometry, while
foaming at the mouth and screaming
like painted Creek Indian. He had
married the only daughter Of Dick Sin
gleton, the celebrated millionaire turf
man and rice planter, and he owned four
hundred slaves and made eight hundred
bales of cotton q year. He had been a
member of Congress, governor of South
Carolina, and was afterwards United
States Senator. The people, Jeforc
making up their minds on any political
question, would say "Mr. NlcDunic is
going to speak at Morrow's old field two
weeks from now, and / will wait till
hear him, " and there they would come
forty and fifty miles, and camp out the
night before to hear him, and his speech
would decide the politics of the entire
country once year. On this Willing
ton occasion it was said that 'phc ever
lasting mouthed Bob TOOmbs was
coming over to meet him." Four thou
sand people were there when that rash
young Georgian crossed the Savannah
to meet the lion in his den, to beard the
Douglas in his halls. Toombs roEo Il
horse, and it was remarked that his shirt
bosom was stained with tobacco iuicU
Yet he was one of the handsomcst mon
that ever had the seal Of genius on his
brow. His head was round rs the coles
tial globe. His abundant, straight,
black hair hung in prOfusiOn over his
ample, marble forehead. He had as
many teeth as a shark, and they were
winter than ivory. His eyes were black
as death and bigger than an oXs. His
step was as graceful as the wi!d-cpt's,
and yet he weighed two hundred pounds.
His presence captivated even the idOla-
tors of George McDutlic. He bounded
into the arena like black named Nu
indian lion from the unknown deserts
of middle Georgia, to reply to the
Olympian Jupiter of the up-country Of
the proud Palmetto State. 1t was the
most memorable overthrow that Nc
Duflic over sustained. This was in the
Harrison Van Buren, election of 1910.
His argument, his inYectivo, his over
bearing torrent of irreverent denuncia-
ton, is tradition in that country even
now. McDuf1io said: 81 have heard
John Randolph, of Roanoke, and met
Tristan Burgess, of Rhode Island, but
this wild Georgian is the Mirubeau of
this age" After that South Carolina
admitted that Georgia was something
more than tho refuge of South Carolina
fugitivCs from justice. This was the be-
ginning of 4'Oombs's immortal Southern
fame.
Since tho recent death Of ex-senator
r. NJ. Il. Hunter, Of Virginia, Senator
| Reagan, of Texas, and Ex-Governor r..
II. Watts, of Alabama, are the only sur.
viving members of Mr.. Davi8's cabinet.
| Reagan was postmaster general and
Watts attorney general. At Montgome.
| ry, Ala, there was o. secret session oi
tho cabinet to see whether we should
bombard Fort Sumter. Toombs was
then secretary of State and was regarded
IS the most rash, headstrong and Violcn
man i'll the Confederacy. While in tn,